MigrantoCost of living in Germany
What a month costs, how prices compare with other countries, and where the money goes
Monthly cost in Germany
Spending runs from €801 a month in the poorest fifth to €4,750 in the richest
Per person, whole country
€1,920
what a typical person spends in a month
Spending across the population
€801richest 20%
€4,750
Where people spend money in Germany
One person's out-of-pocket spending, averaged across the whole country
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Key facts
The cost of living in Germany in numbers
Groceries takes an unusual share of the budget
It absorbs 11.5% of spending here, or €221 a month, against 19.7% in a typical country, 8.2 points less.
Typical spending takes 80% of the average wage
A typical person spends €1,920 a month while the average take-home wage is €2,400, so 20% of an average wage sits above what a typical person spends.
How living costs in Germany compare
Neighbours, region and the world on the same monthly figure
What things cost here
How much the same goods and services cost in Germany against other countries
More expensive than 84% of countries
Where Germany sits when every country is lined up from cheapest to most expensive
Pakistanmost expensive
Bermuda
middle
A basket of goods and services that costs €865 at world-middle prices costs €1,410 here.
Data source: household consumption 2023 (World Bank), International Comparison Program 2021 (World Bank), category breakdown 2022 (Eurostat), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
Living-cost calculator
What it costs to live in Germany
Tell us what you earn and spend today — we'll estimate what the same lifestyle would cost in Germany and how much you could have left each month
- What your lifestyle costs
- How much could be left each month
- How it compares with today
Cost of living in Germany
€10,500/mo
vs €692 in your country
Take-home
€7,350
vs €1,040 in your country
Potential savings
−€3,100
more than in your country
Standard of living
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in Germany?
A typical person in Germany spends about €1,920 a month — around €23,100 a year — on housing, groceries, transport and other everyday costs. It's a nationwide average across different regions, cities and types of housing.
What is the standard of living in Germany?
By spending, Germany ranks #18 of 185 countries. A typical person spends about €1,920 a month, the poorest 20% about €801 and the richest 20% about €4,750. The gap between them shows how unevenly people live.
What is the cost of living in Germany in US dollars?
The cost of living in Germany is about $2,223 a month, or roughly $26,676 a year per person.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Germany?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about €801 a month per person, a typical one around €1,920, and a comfortable life around €2,590. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
What do people spend the most on in Germany?
The biggest expense is housing, at about €473 a month (25% of spending). Then come transport (€259, 14%) and groceries (€221, 12%).
Is the average salary in Germany enough to live on?
In most cases yes, but without much of a cushion. Average spending is about €1,920 a month, while the average take-home pay in Germany is about €2,400. For more on incomes, see salaries in Germany.
Is Germany an expensive country to live in?
Yes. Germany is more expensive than 91% of countries worldwide and ranks 13th of 41 in Europe by cost of living.
What currency is used in Germany?
Germany uses the Euro (EUR). Amounts on this page are shown in it; the currency switcher converts them.
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Living in Germany
See the full country overview